Houzz Tour: From Old Stable to Minimalist Guesthouse in England
Its interior bays once held racehorses, but now this all-white and wood home holds fascination as a modern part-time home
Tucked away on the lush grounds of an English estate, this 1900s stable once housed prized racehorses before suffering decades of neglect. But despite the lack of electricity and modern plumbing, the structure was relatively sound and stood steady, so the owners worked with architect Andy Ramus to turn it into a modern guesthouse, saving what they could from the original structure. The original stable doors and walls define the new layout; they now stand out amid the new neutral palette. Converted trough sinks, towel holders made from horse ties and sliding stable doors complement Ramus' simple, modern additions perfectly.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a guesthouse for a family of 5.
Location: Hampshire, England
Size: 2,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Budget: 150,000 British pounds (about U.S.$232,000); includes design fees, labor, construction, demolition, and electrical and plumbing work
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a guesthouse for a family of 5.
Location: Hampshire, England
Size: 2,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Budget: 150,000 British pounds (about U.S.$232,000); includes design fees, labor, construction, demolition, and electrical and plumbing work
The stable roof suffered the most damage, so Ramus stripped and retiled it. The clients wanted the new house to conserve energy and heat, so Ramus created cavities under the roof and in the walls for thick spray-foam insulation. The large windows — once entrances into each stable bay — are made of double-glazed glass.
Ramus and his team saved everything they could inside. They went through the process slowly, preserving anything that wasn't seriously rotted or damaged. Everything that had to be replaced is simple, clean and white to highlight the building's history. "We wanted the new design to be uncompromisingly minimal, so as not to crowd the old features," says Ramus.
These photos were taken before the owners furnished the house; they added minimal furniture to emphasize the new, clean architecture.
These photos were taken before the owners furnished the house; they added minimal furniture to emphasize the new, clean architecture.
The stable walls still stand, laid out in bays once used by racehorses. Instead of knocking them down, Ramus used them to define the new layout. The kitchen sits in the former tack house, with all the walls and doors fixed in their original positions.
The former stable isn't a full-time residence, so Ramus stuck to the basics in the kitchen, cutting down on plumbing and electrical needs. The kitchen opens to an adjacent dining room lit by skylights, filling the home with natural light.
Ramus divided the six stable bays in the long layout and put sleeping spaces at one end and living spaces at the other. The kitchen and dining area sits at the center of the structure.
The simple new material palette, including polished concrete for the floors, has industrial and agricultural undertones to reflect the building's history. Before pouring the concrete, Ramus excavated the floor and added ridge-foam insulation and radiant heating. Even in British winters, the building requires little additional heat.
Original stable walls frame the master bedroom. Ramus and his team cleaned, stripped and refurbished the worn wood to reveal the craftsmanship. The treated wood now highlights every nick, bump and scrape from years of housing horses.
Two of the bedrooms, including the master, have en suite bathrooms.
Original horse troughs were cleaned up and turned into sink basins for the bathrooms. The horse ties on each basin serve as towel rings.